Anything I need to know about Cannes?

Question

I'm a fifteen-year-old American girl taking a trip to Cannes, France this summer for three weeks. Is there anything I should know, in terms of dialect, sights to see, culture, etc? Any suggestions would be welcome!

Answer 1

You're going to the South of France, so here's a few things:

1. It's the home of the International Film Festival.

2. It's on the French Riviera, so the weather is warm and there are lots of beaches.

3. It's near the bigger cities of Nice and Marseilles (Marseilles is the city that the story of the Count of Monte Cristo partially takes place in).

4. The cities in the South of France have a problem with crime, especially as directed toward tourists.  Keep a tight hold on your purse.  Never leave it hanging on a chair or dangling.  Wear the strap across your body so it can't be pulled off you.

5. It has a waterfront avenue known as La Croisette.

6. Bouillabaisse is a famous dish for the Mediterranean coast (but from Marseilles).

7. There are working perfumeries that you can visit (and France is known for its perfumes and fields of lavendar).

8. In the South, some people speak a dialect known as Occitan or Provencal.  All people speak French, though, of course.